Present Continuous Tense

• The present continuous, also known as the present progressive, is a verb tense used to describe actions happening now or around now.

Formation

• The present continuous is formed using the present tense of the verb "to be" (am, is, are) + present participle (base form of the verb + -ing).
• Subject + am/is/are + verb + -ing

Uses

• Actions happening now: Describing actions happening at the moment of speaking. Example: "I am studying English now."
• Actions happening around now: Describing actions happening around the present time, even if not at this exact moment. Example: "I am reading a very interesting book these days."
• Temporary situations: Describing situations that are not permanent. Example: "She is living in London for a few months."
• Definite future plans: Describing future events that are planned and confirmed. Example: "We are going to the cinema tomorrow."
• Annoying habits: Describing habits that the speaker finds annoying, often used with "always," "constantly," or "forever." Example: "He is always complaining."

Examples

• I am eating lunch.
• She is talking on the phone.
• They are playing football.
• We are watching TV.
• He is working on a project.
• It is raining outside.

Spelling Rules for -ing Form

• Most verbs: Add -ing to the base form of the verb. Example: work → working, play → playing
• Verbs ending in -e: Drop the -e and add -ing. Example: write → writing, dance → dancing. Exception: Verbs ending in -ee (e.g., see → seeing)
• Verbs ending in consonant + vowel + consonant: Double the last consonant and add -ing (if the last syllable is stressed). Example: run → running, swim → swimming. Note: This rule does not apply if the last syllable is not stressed (e.g., visit → visiting) or if the verb ends in w, x, or y (e.g., snow → snowing, fix → fixing, play → playing)
• Verbs ending in -ie: Change -ie to -y and add -ing. Example: lie → lying, die → dying

Signal Words

• now
• at the moment
• these days
• currently
• right now
• today
• tonight
• this week/month/year

Present Continuous vs. Simple Present

• Present Continuous: Used for actions happening now, temporary situations, or future plans.
• Simple Present: Used for habits, routines, general truths, and facts.
• Example, present continuous: "I am watching TV now."
• Example, simple present: "I watch TV every evening."

Non-Continuous Verbs (Stative Verbs)

• Some verbs are typically not used in the continuous form because they describe states, not actions.
• Verbs of emotion: love, hate, like, dislike, want, need
• Verbs of mental state: know, believe, understand, remember, forget, think, realize
• Verbs of possession: have, own, possess, belong
• Verbs of sense: see, hear, smell, taste, feel
• Other verbs: seem, appear, cost, be
• These verbs are usually used in the simple present tense.
• Example: "I understand the lesson." (Not: "I am understanding the lesson.")
• Exception: Some stative verbs can be used in the continuous form when they describe an action rather than a state. For example, "I am thinking about the problem" (actively considering it) vs. "I think it is a good idea" (my opinion).